Posted in: Comics, Recent Updates | Tagged: Comics, entertainment, image comics, jason howard, trees, warren ellis

Trees Shows Humans Are Only One Tiny Piece Of Existence

Published Sat, 07 Jun 2014 16:00:00 -0500

By Dylan Gonzalez

There are some weeks when I am reading comics and the work is so good, I think to myself, this would make a great movie. Then I stop and realize I love that this is a comic and exists solely as a comic. I kept thinking that on the day when I was reading Warren Ellis' new book, Trees from Image Comics.

What is the world of Trees? Ten years ago, alien life forms, resembling massive tree trunk-like objects, landed on Earth and changed everything. Their arrival has shifted the nature of Earth, from living conditions to politics. I shy away from calling it post-apocalyptic, but I suppose that is as fitting a description of Trees as we can get. It's just Ellis has put a different spin on it.

I commend Ellis for dropping us right into the action. Based on the brief passages regarding the arrival of the trees, we understand what transpired ten years ago in a simple but effective manner. Instead, Ellis provides us with an example of what life is like under the banner of the Trees: Rio de Janeiro is a police state and the rebellion-type people we follow seem to admire the Trees. Despite their efforts to gaze at the mighty beings from the stars, they soon learn they mean little to them, melted under a current of acid.

Intentional or not, Ellis seems to be getting at the idea of humanity interacting with alien life and what its response to us would be. Instead of war or intrigue, the Trees see us as insignificant, a mere speck in the greater realm of the universe. Though humanity has progressed in amazing ways, we still remain just one tiny little piece of existence and the Trees arrival is to remind us of that.

Perhaps that is his overall goal. We will have to see. But because humanity won't back down, even in a situation like this, Ellis provides us with three different perspectives and each one unique. We follow the aspiring mayor of New York City who lacks any real interest in what the Trees are and can do, but rather maintaining a running city; Tian Chenglei, a newly arrived citizen of the bustling Chinese city of Shu; and Marsh, Dr. Siva and the other residents of Blindhall Station studying the Trees. Three different views in one very messed up world. The New York City mayoral candidate, in particular, grabbed my attention. How can you not have a policy on something that has so affected your planet? It would be like the United States ignoring domestic terrorism. Mr. Ellis, are you onto something?

Of course, Trees would not be complete without the stunning artwork by Jason Howard. Howard provides a slightly cartoony style to his people, but his landscape shots are nothing short of gorgeous. People and cities alike have character and expressions and his use of colors is on point. I love Jason Howard's artwork and I hope to see more of him on big projects.

If you have not picked up Trees #1, then do so next time you go to the comic book store. Warren Ellis is back with a great tale of science, society and intrigue.

Dylan Gonzalez happens to love beer and comic books and luckily found a place to write about both because he has no idea how to actually make money in the real world. He lives in a cave in New Jersey. Tweet him at @BeardedPickle, follow his own beer blog at http://boozegeek.tumblr.com/or email him at dylan.gonzalez1990@gmail.com.

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